Scouting Reports – 2012

Prototypical size. A physical run blocker. Has the strength to finish off his blocks. Explodes off the snap and drives defenders back in the running game. Does a nice job staying low to hold his ground against the bull rush. Decent athleticism for an interior lineman; played left tackle in college; has the ability to get to the second level and move on pulling/trapping plays.

Weaknesses:

Level of competition is definitely a concern. Missed Senior Bowl with hamstring injury. Missed time with a knee injury in 2010. Measurables were very average at the combine; only 28 reps on bench press. Will be a liability in pass protection early in his career; struggled with blitz recognition skills in D-II and will certainly struggle in this area at the next level early on. Does not have the quick feet necessary to play tackle in the pros.

Comments:

Silatolu is a very difficult prospect to grade due to his lack of experience against top competition. Having missed the Senior Bowl, we really don’t have a good grasp on his ability to handle NFL-sized defensive linemen. He certainly appears to have the strength to hold his ground at the next level, but the jump from D-II to the NFL is not always an easy one to make.

Impressive size/athleticism combo. Consistently explodes off the snap. Does a great job staying low to leverage his way into the backfield. A scrappy player who consistently fights through traffic to get into the backfield and occasionally make plays in pursuit. Knows how to make himself small to slip past less mobile interior offensive linemen. Has experience lining up at end in 3-4 sets and three-technique tackle in 4-3 sets.

Weaknesses:

Spends too much time on the ground; explodes off the snap and occasionally lets himself get caught off balance and is easily tossed aside by more physical interior linemen. Strength at the point of attack is marginal; gets stood up fairly consistently and may need to be taken off the field in certain run situations, especially if used as a 4-3 tackle. Lacks the strength to shed blocks once a lineman gets into his chest. Had foot surgery prior to 2008 season. Suffered ankle injury during 2011 offseason.

Comments:

Winn’s combination of size and athleticism is certainly intriguing, but he’s a classic end/tackle ‘tweener which may give teams pause before giving him a 2nd or 3rd round grade. In order to be a three-down player, his best bet would be to land in a 3-4 defense. However, he could be a potentially dangerous situational interior pass rusher as a three-technique tackle. He lacks the strength to play inside against the run, but he could be a valuable asset as part of a defensive line rotation.

Impressive size and strength. Strong bull rush; does a nice job consistently staying low and using good leverage. Has the ability to be end an in a 3-4 or 4-3 system, and could be considered a pass rushing three-technique tackle by some teams. Has the lower body strength to anchor against the point of attack against the run. Coaches and teammates speak highly of his work ethic and leadership qualities.

Weaknesses:

Limited athleticism; not a consistent pass rush threat due to limited speed off the edge and explosion off the snap. Below average change-of-direction ability; once he gets moving, he lacks the balance and agility to quickly alter his course and isn’t a strong playmaker in pursuit as a result.

Comments:

What you see is what you get with Guyton. He’s is limited physically, and probably isn’t going to be a three-down lineman at the next level as a result. However, he does have the potential to be a quality situational lineman. In a deep rotation in a 4-3 system he could contribute as a right defensive end on run downs and then shift inside to tackle in passing situations.

Decent athlete. Explosive edge rusher. Does a nice job staying low as he explodes off the snap, making it difficult for taller tackles to get a hand on him. Strong fundamentals as a pass rusher; knows to stay active and not allow tackles to get into his chest. Some experience dropping into zone coverage. Has experience playing linebacker in 3-4 and end in 4-3 sets. Scrappy player who will fight through the whistle and has a strong motor. Very reliable wrap-up tackler.

Weaknesses:

Workout numbers don’t really show up on the field; plays slower than he tests. Below-average stop-and-start ability; takes a few steps to gain momentum. Lacks the strength to consistently shed blocks once he’s fully engaged. Limited during combine due to torn pectoral muscle. Fairly serious injury concerns; nothing major, but consistently banged up. Missed time in 2011 with leg injury. Underwent shoulder surgery in 2009 for torn labrum. Missed time with ankle injury in 2008.

Comments:

Johnson has the potential to be an effective pass rusher in either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. He lacks the elite athleticism or strength to project as a can’t-miss prospect, but he does have starter potential if he refines some of the minor aspects of his game. Talent-wise he’s a 3rd/4th round prospect, but his consistent injuries may cause some teams to drop him further on their board.

Prototypical size for 4-3 end. Has experience lining up at end in 3-4 and 4-3 sets and also with his hand off the ground. Consistently explodes off the line. Stays low and generates a strong bull rush. Strong motor; very active player who consistently gives a strong second effort once he appears to be stopped. Does a nice job sliding through holes on the interior line; shows great body control when he slows down and moves in a more deliberate manner.

Weaknesses:

Average agility and change-of-direction ability; can get into the backfield but won’t chase down many mobile quarterbacks. Needs to play with better balance; attempts to explode into the backfield with such force that he often gets knocked off balance with a quick punch from offensive tackles. Spends too much time on the ground; overaggressive nature allows him to get pushed around too easily by more physical tackles. Missed time with a hamstring injury in 2011

Comments:

Bequette has the physical tools, but needs to work on his technique and overall awareness on the field. His explosion off the snap is impressive, but he definitely benefits from the fact that he has a one-track mind on the field (to get into the backfield). If he played a more balanced role in Arkansas’ defense he likely would not stand out on film as often. While his ability to surge into the backfield can definitely be an asset, he is often caught out of position on screens and misdirection plays. With some quality coaching, he could develop into a starter but he probably isn’t an instant-impact rookie.

Prototypical 3-4 outside linebacker. High energy, high effort player. Experience lining up at end and linebacker. Reliable wrap-up tackler. Impressive agility for a guy his size. Has the speed to make plays in pursuit. Strong pass rusher off the edge; has the speed to blow past slower offensive tackles, especially when lining up with his hand off the ground. Does a nice job fighting through traffic when blitzing inside. Strong enough to shed blocks fairly consistently.

Weaknesses:

Inconsistent explosion of the snap; seems to guess at the snap count a lot, occasionally explodes out of his stance but other times will be the step behind the rest of the linemen. Overaggressive in pursuit; gives a great effort, but often inefficient with the angles he takes which results in missed opportunities. Needs to do a better job keeping his eyes on the quarterback when blitzes; often misses opportunities due to his inability to adjust. Missed time with a leg injury as a freshman.

Comments:

McClellin may not be a great fit for every defense, but he’s a perfect fit at outside linebacker a 3-4 system. At this stage of his career, he’s overaggressive and inconsistent but he possesses all the physical tools necessary to develop into a quality starter.

Prototypical size and overall build for a No. 1 receiver. Does a nice job finding soft spot in zone coverage; gives his quarterback a big target. Has the potential to be a quality possession receiver. Good all-around athlete; will make some plays after the catch. Good vision as a runner after the catch.

Weaknesses:

Route running is often sloppy; doesn’t make sharp cuts and will struggle to break free from man coverage at the next level. Extremely careless running with the football after the catch; frequently carries the ball away from his body and will have it stripped occasionally. Inconsistent adjusting to poorly thrown balls. Inconsistent hands; will make some nice plays but will also drop some very easy passes. Typically catches with his body. Limited speed; not a serious deep treat. Effort as a blocker is inconsistent. Hospitalized during 2011 offseason to undergo neurological testing; reportedly was deal with some personal issues, but the details were never made public – this may not be an issue, but teams certainly need to ask questions about the situation.

Comments:

Criner is a frustrating player. He flashes the ability to make some big plays, but is terribly inconsistent. The most concerning thing with Criner is the fact that he is so sloppy in all of the minor aspects of the game. First, he needs to do a better job catching the ball away from his body. He clearly has the hand size to do this and it will minimize the needless drops. He also needs to secure the football after the catch. Too often he tries to be a playmaker and gets careless with the football. The potential is certainly there for Criner to develop into a productive receiver, but he is definitely a developmental prospect.

Elite speed; a legitimate threat to stretch the field. A dangerous runner after the catch due to his speed. Impressive start-and-stop ability makes him tough to corral in the open field. Excellent vision when running in the open field. An explosive route runner; gets up to full speed quickly and is very quick and sharp in his breaks. Fairly reliable hands. Has experience lining up wide and in the slot. Experienced returning kicks and punts.

Weaknesses:

Can be too reckless when running with the football at times; puts his body on the line and will take some big hits and with his slight frame that could lead to injuries. Trusts his playmaking ability too much; will go backwards at times and make some poor decisions after the catc and on kick/punt returns. Hands are fairly reliable, but he does tend to catch with his body too often. Missed time in 2008 with a foot injury. Missed four games in 2009 with a hamstring injury. Missed most of 2010 with medical redshirt due to a broken foot.

Comments:

Wylie isn’t going to be a No. 1 or even a No. 2 at the next level, but his speed makes him a dangerous threat. In the right system, he could be a dangerous weapon in the slot and should make an immediate impact as a return specialist. Given his playmaking ability, he could come off the board on Day 2 is some team is willing to reach on a luxury pick. If he falls further, however, it will be due to injury concerns. None of his injuries are devastating, but three injuries in four years definitely raises a red flag.

Impressive straight-line speed; a legitimate deep threat. Strong start-and-stop ability allows him to juke out of some would-be tackles in the open field. Experienced returning kickoffs, where he may make the most impact at the next level.

Weaknesses:

Work ethic has been openly questioned by Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe; reportedly showed up out of shape in 2011 and was limited during preseason workouts as a result. Suffered two torn ACLs in high school during junior and senior year. Catches with his body too often, likely a result of his small hands which measured as the second smallest among receivers at the combine. Straight-line speed is impressive, but he lacks the agility to consistently make defenders miss in the open field. Does a poor job adjusting to the ball; needs to do a better job going up to pluck the ball out the air rather than waiting for it to come to him. Route running is adequate, but doesn’t make enough sharp cuts and relies too much on his pure speed.

Comments:

Givens is more track star than wide receiver. He clearly has the speed to stretch the field, but he is very raw in other aspects of the game and, given his work ethic, there’s little reason to expect him to develop further at the next level. As a general rule, if a guy doesn’t work hard in college, he’s not going to suddenly develop a work ethic once he starts collecting NFL paychecks.

Good hands; catches away from his body and quickly secures the ball and turns upfield. Explosive runner with the ball in his hands. Shows good vision and has the agility to make guys miss in the open field. Does a nice job adjusting to the ball in the air. A good all-around athlete; great body control when going up for a pass in traffic. Plenty of experience in the slot. Frequently used on screens to take advantage of his ability after the catch.

Weaknesses:

Lacks the breakaway speed to be a serious deep threat. Limited height and very average leaping ability makes it tough to get him the ball downfield in traffic. An elusive runner, but not real tough; will go down quickly on contact and will even shy away from hits, going to the ground or out of bounds early. Can be thrown off his route fairly easily by more physical corners in press coverage. Probably limited to a slot receiver role at the next level. Arrested in 2007 for attempting to steal gasoline from a closed gas station. Missed time with a broken shoulder blade in 2009. Suffered a torn ACL in 2011.

Comments:

Broyles was an explosive playmaker at Oklahoma, but he doesn’t quite have the size or speed to be an elite prospect. The most concerning part of this game is the lack of physical play. Given his relatively modest speed, NFL corners won’t be shy about jamming him at the line of scrimmage which will hinder his ability to break free. However, he does have very good hands and is a polished runner after the catch, making him a potential weapon in the slot as a 3rd or 4th option.